Learn more about the people and groups that further research at the Joslin Diabetes Center  |  Select an application from the list below:  |  Search JoslinResearch.org  |  Learn about JoslinResearch.org and its features  |  Contact us with questions or to let us know about problems  |  Login to use all our features
Joslin Diabetes Center Website
  Harvard Medical School
Joslin Research Home  
Harvard Medical School Joslin Research Home
Welcome to the Joslin Research Website                     
 
  Joslin Investigator:
   
  
 
Investigator Specifics:
Professional Details:
Publications
CV not available

Member of Section:
Behavioral & Mental Health Research

Current Fellows, Students, or Lab Members:
Elizabeth Beverly, Ph. D.
Wouter S. Hoogenboom

Past Fellows, etc.:
Keri Hannagan
Ruthanne Hanto
Jarim Lee
Susan Lin
Sheila McMurrich
Akshay Mohan
Patricia Osborne
Arlene Smaldone
Yuriko Yoshikawa


 
 
Katie  Weinger, EdD, RN
Investigator
Joslin Diabetes Center
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Harvard Medical School
Director
Office of Research Fellow Affairs
 
6/12/1991 -  
 
 

Diabetes education is an essential component of health care. More than simply increasing patients' knowledge, the goal of diabetes education is to help individuals and families adjust to and live with diabetes. Improved quality of life and better treatment adherence help to minimize the physical, emotional and social consequences of their illness. To be effective, diabetes education must incorporate the many scientific advances in the fields of diabetes care, psychology and education. Katie Weinger, Ed.D., R.N., an educational psychologist in Joslin's Behavioral and Mental Health Research Section, investigates four aspects of education in diabetes: educational assessment, content, process and evaluation.

At Joslin's Clinical Research Center, Dr. Weinger and her colleagues have examined patients' symptoms and intellectual function at high and low blood sugar levels. They found that many patients were monitoring symptoms that did not accurately signal high or low blood glucose levels for them, and were not monitoring those symptoms that more accurately reflected early warning signs of glucose fluctuations. These researchers are currently investigating whether patients with type 1 diabetes who are undergoing intensive insulin treatment can be taught to recognize low blood sugar levels early and therefore prevent more serious episodes of hypoglycemia that are often associated with improved glycemic control. The research team also is identifying psychosocial impediments to treatment adherence and improving glycemic control. This project will provide the basis for development of programs that help patients achieve better diabetes control by specifically targeting the behavioral impediments to diabetes self-management.

Dr. Weinger is also investigating factors that contribute to patients' perceptions of their ability to drive safely at normal and low blood sugar levels. This information will be valuable for patients when making decisions about driving, and for clinicians to use when advising patients about driving.


Biographical Sketch:

Dr. Weinger is an investigator in the Section of Behavioral and Mental Health Research and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She directs Joslin Diabetes Center’s Office of Research Fellow Affairs as well as the Joslin Clinic’s Center for Excellence in Diabetes Education. She serves as vice chair of the Committee on Human Subjects. In recognition of her work, Dr. Weinger has received the Harvard Medical School Joslin Diabetes Center Fellowship in Memory of Dr. Priscilla White, a Harvard Medical School Center of Excellence in Women’s Health Research Grant as well as several NIH funded grants. She served as Guest Editor of the Spring 2003 issue of Diabetes Spectrum Research to Practice. Dr. Weinger received her nursing education at Boston College and earned her doctorate in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University. Supported through an individual NIH NRSA fellowship award, she has completed postdoctoral fellowships in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and at the Harvard Institute of Nursing Research at Harvard School of Public Health.


Selected References:
Weinger K, Jacobson AM. Psychosocial and quality of life correlates of glycemic control during intensive treatment of type 1 diabetes. Patient Education and Counseling. 2001 42:123-131.

Weinger K, O'Donnell K, Ritholtz MD. Adolescent views of diabetes-related parent conflict and support: a focus group analysis. J Adolesc Health. 2001 29:330-336.

Weinger K, Butler HA, Welch GW, La Greca AM. Measuring Diabetes Self-care: A Psychometric Analysis of the Self-Care Inventory-R with Adults. Diabetes Care 2005;28:1346-52.

Weinger K, McMurrich SJ, Yi JP, Lin S, Rodriguez M. Psychological Characteristics of Frequent Short-Notice Cancellers of Diabetes Medical and Education Appointments. Diabetes Care, 2005;28: 1791-93.

Smaldone A, Honig J, Stone PW, Arons R, Weinger K. Characteristics of California children with single versus multiple DKA hospitalizations (1998-2000). Diabetes Care; 2005;28: 2082-1084.

Hsu W, Cheung S, Ong E, Wong K, Lin S, Leon K, Weinger K, King G. Identification of Linguistic Barriers to Diabetes Knowledge and Glycemic Control in Chinese Americans with Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2006;29:415-416.

Musen G, Lyoo IK, Sparks C, Weinger K, Hwang J, Ryan C, Jimerson DC, Hennen J, Renshaw PF, Jacobson AM. Effect of type 1 diabetes on gray matter density as measured by voxel based morphometry. Diabetes 2006;55:326-333.

Smaldone A, Ganda O, McMurrich S, Hannagan K, Lin S, Caballero AE, Weinger K. Should group education appointments be separated by type of diabetes? Diabetes Care 2006; 29;1656-1658.

Munshi M, Grande L, Hayes M, Ayres D, Suhl E, Capelson R, Lin S, Milberg W, Weinger K. Cognitive Dysfunction is Associated with Poor Diabetes Control in Older Adults. Diabetes Care 2006;29:1794-1799.